Opposition has no claws

By
CHRIS PIPPOS

THE Tasmanian Greens have almost forgotten how to be in political opposition.

And state Labor, apart from perhaps its leader, Bryan Green, is proving too slow to adjust to what is required on the opposition benches.

The lack of depth and mongrel in Labor's opposition is already becoming evident.

The Greens, in particular, are just a shadow of what they were while in opposition before forming the Labor-Green alliance, when the Putt and then McKim-led Greens were more formidable than the Liberals.

Maybe it's their depleted MP numbers or the lack of resources available to the Greens since the last election.

Perhaps it was the winter break, when some MPs go dormant, the pre-budget lull, or all this talk about cannabis . . .

Apart from the party's seemingly sole obsession with medicinal cannabis (albeit a worthy industry) and opposition to proposed workplace anti-protest laws, since April it has been mute on too many core issues.

It has so far lost its way, failing to lay a glove on the government.

Meanwhile, the forest peace deal is on the cusp of unravelling and the state government's counterparts in Canberra are treating low-income earners with disdain.

Then there's PUP (cue the cringe button), with its dangerous mix of populism and nationalism, this week threatening hard-earned Chinese investment in Tasmania.

In this sort of ripe environment, the Greens should be proving far more formidable.

It's like the opposition Greens have found first gear but, crunch, second gear cannot be found.

Labor, after 16 years in government, is also struggling to make the transition.

It finds itself in the awkward space where it cannot criticise anything linked to its long legacy in government.

This, combined with the fact the Hodgman team (apart from its Triabunna woodchip mill inquiry becoming an expensive witch-hunt, and a few arts and sports funding stoushes) is proving a fairly capable and disciplined bunch for a relatively new government, all adds up to make life challenging in opposition.

Labor cannot be a one-man band if it hopes to return to government any time soon.

To date, Mr Green's best team contributor to the local cause has been none other than federal Treasurer Joe Hockey, who is doing more to offend Labor's heartland than then-prime minister John Howard did during the peak of the WorkChoices controversy.